In his first visit to Uttar Pradesh after taking charge as the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda met the Chief Minister of the state, Sh. Akhilesh Yadav to discuss various health issues and health programmes. In particular, Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases in eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, particularly in district of Gorakhpur, Siddarthnagar, Basti, KhushiNagar, Maharajganj etc., were taken up. Also present at the meeting were the State Health Minister and the Chief Secretary. The Union Health Minister was accompanied by senior officials of the state in the meeting.

It may be recalled that every year with the monsoon season these diseases affect a number of children resulting in death and disability. The Government of India is implementing a national programme for prevention and control of AES and JE in five states in 60 highly endemic districts of which 20 districts are in Uttar Pradesh.

The Minister had earlier reviewed the situation in Tamil Nadu and is now visiting Uttar Pradesh. Inter-departmental coordination, monthly review by the District Magistrates, quarterly review by the Chief Secretary, and using forum of public representatives to spread message of consuming boiled drinking water, and use of JE vaccine under routine immunization programme were stressed during the meeting. The Health Minister also emphasized the need for mass drug administration round in 37 districts of 51 remaining endemic district for Lymphatic Filariasis.

The Union Health Minister informed the State Government about “Mission Indradhanush” of the Health Ministry. The Mission depicting seven colours of the rainbow, aims to cover all those children by 2019 who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases which include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B.

The Chief Minister and the Union Minister also reviewed H1N1 situation in Uttar Pradesh. The State Government assured that necessary steps have been taken and stock of medicines, testing facilities, masks etc., are in adequate quantity. The Health Minister offered all central assistance as requested by the state.

In the day the Health Minister will visit the BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, while he will visit Siddarthnagar tomorrow.

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Media Advisory: Collection of Authority Slips for Economic Survey and General Budget on 23rd and 24th February, 2015

The Union Finance Minister will present the General Budget 2014-15 on 28th February, 2015 in Lok Sabha, while Economic Survey 2014-15 will be laid in Parliament on 27th February, 2015. The hard copies of both General Budget & Economic Survey will be supplied to media persons at the designated places in Parliament House as well as at National Media Centre. We will be distributing the hard copies of the Economic Survey and Union Budget only to PIB accredited correspondents. Both the documents are also made available both on Finance Ministry’s as well as PIB website immediately after the Economic Survey is tabled in Parliament and Finance Minister’s Budget speech is over in Lok Sabha on 27th and 28th February, 2015 respectively. Besides it, there is significant reduction in number of printed copies of both the documents. Therefore, it has been decided that we may not be able to give more than 5 sets each of both these documents to each media organization. Therefore, you are requested to appreciate the position and cooperate in this regard. Both these documents will be distributed against specific ‘Authority Slips’ which can be collected by accredited correspondents from Director (Press Facility), PIB, Room No. 107, National Media Centre, New Delhi from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 23rd and 24th February, 2015. Authority Slips will be given against PIB accreditation cards only (one slip on one card) and not exceeding five to one organization as explained above.

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Brazilian Delegation Calls on MoS (Home)

India Offers NPR Experience to Brazil

A five-member Brazilian delegation led by President of Supreme Electoral Court, Brazil, Justice Dias Toffoli called on the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary here today. Justice Toffoli was interested in studying India’s initiatives like the National Population Register (NPR), Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) and Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC).

The delegation had a detailed discussion with the Minister and the Additional Registrar General from the Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) briefed them on the methodology adopted, cost effectiveness and utility of the database for linking to e-services.

The Brazilian delegation was very impressed with the grand initiative, wherein about 1.2 billion records have been generated under the National Register of Indian Citizens under the National Population Register.

Indian side assured of sharing the experience of its initiative with the Brazilian side.

The Ambassador of Brazil to India also accompanied the Brazilian delegation.

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NCMC reviews situation of blockage on Phuktal River in J&K

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met here today, under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, Shri Ajit Seth to discuss the situation arising out of blockage of Phuktal River due to a massive landslide in Kargil District of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Committee approved an Action Plan to manually create a channel in the blockage to drain out the accumulated water from the lake in a regulated manner. This task will involve integrated efforts from various agencies of Central and State Government including Army, Air Force, Border Roads Organisation, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, National Hydro Power Corporation, Central Water Commission, Survey of India and Central Institute for Mining & Fuel Research.

The execution of the Action Plan envisages snow clearance of over 40 km of road from Padum to Morne, treking for about 43 km from Morne to the site of landslide, air dropping of men and material, manually digging of channel, etc., and may take about 30 days.

Action Plan also includes communication strategy and installation of gauging stations to monitor the water level in the river. The state Government has also prepared a rehabilitation plan to ensure safety of life and property of the inhabitants.

There are 62,390 vacancies of Constable/Rifleman in different Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the country in the pay scale of Rs. 5200-20200 + Grade Pay Rs.2000/- which are to be filled through Constable/GD Exam – 2015 to be held on October 4, 2015. Out of the total vacancies 6,583 vacancies are earmarked for North Eastern states (including Sikkim) and 1,631 for Jammu and Kashmir including 447 vacancies earmarked for 11 border districts of the State.

The written examination will be conducted in Hindi, English and 15 regional languages including Bengali, Assamese, Manipuri & Mizo languages for NE States and Kashmiri (Urdu script) for J&K. The written test will be preceded by the Physical Standard Test (PST) & Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Only those candidates who qualify the PST & PET will be allowed to appear in the written examination. The requisite height for PST is 170 cms for male and 157 cms for female and the requisite chest parameter is 80 cms (for male only). However, the physical standard requirements of height and chest have been relaxed for the candidates of NE States (including Sikkim) and J&K. Details are available on SSC’s website- http://ssc.nic.in and Employment News dated 24.01.2015..

There is no fee for SC, ST, Woman and Ex-serviceman candidates for applying in this exam. The last date for receipt of application & form is 2nd March, 2015 for the candidates of NE States and J&K.

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Ministry of Human Resource Development to Celebrate Matribhasha Diwas

UNESCO has been observing February 21st every year as International Mother Language Day to promote mother tongues and increase awareness of the linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world.

India possesses a very high linguistic diversity index. The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India is celebrating 2lst February as Matribhasha Divas all over India with the objective of sensitising people on the need to impart communication skills and proficiency in mother tongue. The focus will be on India`s vast and diverse language heritage and on ways and means to preserve and support about 3000 mother tongues

All the schools, colleges, universities and Language related institutions under both Central and State Governments are celebrating the occasion by holding seminars, workshops, special lectures and various competitions for students on the importance of mother tongue.

Some of the unique features of this celebration would be GK competitions on Indian Language Heritage and exhibition on Indian mother tongues. Schools and colleges are encouraged to take up year-long activities to facilitate using one`s own mother tongue better and learning other`s mother tongue faster and also to create a congenial atmosphere for appreciating and encouraging all Indian languages. Language festivals will also be held in different places for the first time.

The Minister for HRD, Smt. Smriti Irani will be interacting with the students while attending an event on the occasion of Matribhasha Divas at Ethiraj College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Special feature of the event shall be the releasing of new books

-1008 books of Central Institute of Indian Languages;

- 10 books of Central Institute of Classical Tamil; and

- 5 books of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan.

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President Appoints Seven New Additional Judges in the Allahabad High Court

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President, is pleased to appoint (i) Shri Mukhtar Ahamad, (ii) Shri Amar Singh Chauhan, (iii) Shri Shamsher Bahadur Singh, (iv) Shri Vinod Kumar Misra, (v) Shri Pramod Kumar Srivastava, (vi) Shri Raghvendra Kumar, and (vii) Shri Pratyush Kumar, to be Additional Judges of the Allahabad High Court, in that order of seniority, for a period of two years with effect from the date they assume charge of their offices. However, the appointment in the case of Shri Shamsher Bahadur Singh will be with effect from the date of assumption of charge till 14th February, 2017, and Shri Pramod Kumar Srivastava with effect from assumption of charge till 28th January, 2017.

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MoU Signed between KVIC and RSETIS

An MoU was signed between Khadi & Village Industies Commission (KVIC),under the Ministry of MSME and Monitoring Cell For Rural Self Employment Training Institute’s, (RSETIS) under the Ministry Of Rural Development in the presence of Shri Kalraj Mishra,Union Minister of Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises here today.

The MoU was signed by Shri B. H. Anil Kumar, CEO & Commissioner for Khadi and Village Industries (KVIC) and Shri K. N. Janardhana, Chief Project Co-ordinator, Monitoring Cell for RSETIs. Present on the occasion were Shri Madhav Lal, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Dr. Veerendra Heggade, Co-Chairman, National Advisory Council for RSETIs, officials of Ministry of MSME and KVIC.

The Ministry of MSME through KVIC is implementing the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for generating employment opportunities through setting up of micro enterprises in rural and urban areas of the Country.

Around 2.9 lakhs micro enterprises have been set up so far providing employment opportunities to 25.93 lakh persons. The scheme has received encouraging response from all the stake holders namely unemployed youth, Banks and implementing agencies i.e. KVIC, KVIB and DIC. It has been observed that applications from unemployed youth received are far in excess of the target every year which reflects the popularity of the scheme.

During PMEGP review meetings held by the Ministry of MSME, KVIC it has been observed that many of the applicants under PMEGP are not possessing business skills &skills related to their projects. This also increases the rate of rejection of Bank loan applications and affects the viability of the PMEGP project.

As a remedial measure, KVIC with the help of Monitoring Cell for RSETIs which monitors the Bankers Training Institute viz. Rural Self Employment Training Institutes available in all the districts of the Country to partner with KVIC for conduct of Entrepreneurship Development Programmes. There are 581 RSETIs/RUDSETIs in the Country and they provide skill development training, in more than 250 skills. RSETIs also provides handholding to the trainees for a period of 2 years which includes training, project formulation and handholding beyond bank sanction till setting up of the units, as well as monitoring for a period of 2 years after the unit is setup.
Convergence in the area of imparting Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) to PMEGP beneficiaries and linking skill development trainees to PMEGP was explored.

Mou signed by KVIC with Monitoring Cell for RSETIs :

• RSETIs& RUDSETIs will carry out EDP training of PMEGP beneficiaries.
• Trainees having undergone skill development programme at RSETIs& RUDSETIs will be provided a higher rating in District Level Task Force Committee (DLTFC) of PMEGP for their selection.
• Monitoring Cell for RSETIs& RUDSETIs will ensure hand holding for trainees, project formulation and guidance etc. upto a period of two years including arranging for bank loan sanction.
• Monitoring Cell for RSETIs& RUDSETIs will prepare district-wise model project reports for benefit of beneficiaries.
• Monitoring Cell for RSETI’s will also utilize infrastructure of KVIC Departmental Training Centres for their skill development courses as per requirement on payment of charges/expenditure which will be worked out mutually.
• Monitoring Cell for RSETIs will organize workshop jointly with KVIC at district level for officials of Banks to sensitize them on PMEGP alongwith DICs and KVIBs.
• MoU will be for initial period of three years, however performance under the MoU will be reviewed after 2 years.